Hammond A100

The Hammond A100 is a dual leveled keyboard organ that each has four and a half octaves. It also has two octaves of bass pedals. It is a pretty standard looking organ, with pretty standard options and draw bars that is taken after the classic Hammond B3 organ. It also has vibrato options and presets with the black keys on the left so you can get a variety of organ sounds between these presets and the draw bars. The organ is fully polyphonic.

UTILIZATION

The general configuration of the A100 is standard and is easy to use if you have any experience with operating an organ. If you don't have any experience, it is easy to follow and you should be able to figure it out pretty quickly. The presets make it easy to choose between a bunch of different organ sounds, but the draw bars and vibrato effects also come in handy to create your own sounds and especially if you don't have a Leslie cabinet to use this with. I don't have a manual for the Hammond A100 organ, but it is pretty easy to use and figure out that I never need one.

SOUNDS

The Hammond A100 is great for all types of music, but I have used it mostly in rock and pop. While it doesn't have the same quality as a Hammond B3 or C3, it sounds good and is a good substitute for these organs if you can't spend thousands of dollars on these top end organs, like most of us. The feel of the A100 is smooth and is definitely has an acceptable expressiveness to it. While I always try to use a B3 when recording, if that isn't possible the A100 works great.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using the Hammond A100 for a few years here and there for studio use and it has always produced good results for me. It is easy to use and has a great sound to it. As I stated before, this won't compare to a B3, but is an acceptable substitute especially considering the price difference. The A100 is a great choice for the player who wants a real organ at a reasonable price.

Tone Wheel Organ (electro mechanical), 2 + 5 octaves keyboard pedal 25 ratings

4 sets of 9 drawbars (2 keyboard) + 9 presets repatchables keyboard (with a screwdriver, the cable and patience!)

Toggle buttons for control of vibrato and percussion

Original very brief connection (socket cabin PR40) - Change required to connect a Leslie ("Leslie kit") or to obtain a line-out

Total Polyphony

UTILIZATION

All functions are easily accessible (no menus!)
Many possibilities for the choice of sound and to vary the techniques of play
Instrument rich and complex ... necessary learning, the use is not really immediately!
Instrument it is impossible to go around

SOUNDS

The archetype of the Hammond, the same as a B3, C3, RT3 or D100.

For classical, jazz, rock, reggae, R & B, blues ...

A versatile instrument

Note: Each organ has its own sound, because of the age of the component of the state of the keyboards, the type of lamps, etc. ...

OVERALL OPINION

For me it's great organ.
(However, I take off 2 points for the connection because it's really simple ... no soldering iron required if the organ is not changed.)

It is also the organ standard. When you know a console Hammond ABC type, they all know! available to order and the sound has hardly changed during the life of the instrument (from 1955 to 1975) and this whatever the model, as long as it is an A100, B3, C3, RT3 or D100.
We can not say the same electronic keyboards, and whatever the brand!